Rachel Hamby

I Need Your Vote!

2011-11-30T10:29:00.000-08:00

Mee Genius, Apple's ebook ap for Children's Books, is holding their 2nd Author's Challenge. My story, Gobblin' in the Garden, is in the running. I would appreciate your vote. Just click this link to read and vote for Inchworm. Thanks!

Picture Book Idea Month 2011

2011-10-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

Sign-up thru November 3rd to participate. At the end, you'll have fresh ideas for PB stories and you may even win a prize!

We're all Winners!

2010-12-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

Today is December 1st, PiBoIdMo is over, and I have 30 new story ideas to work on! Thanks to Tara for organizing this month long writing exercise and to all the guest bloggers that kept me motivated to pull out my idea notebook every day.

Writing PBs with Curriculum Tie-Ins

2010-11-02T11:35:00.001-07:00

At a recent SCBWI conference in Spokane, WA, Kendra Marcus of BookStop Literary Agency emphasized that picture book editors are looking for books for the toddler set and books with curriculum connections. If you've committed yourself to writing in this genre, including curriculum tie-ins is something to consider. But what if you're not a teacher? What if you haven't been in a kindergarten or first grade classroom for awhile? Here's an example of a link I found that you may also find useful. This website offers a Teacher's Guide for preschool teachers. With research, you can learn what teachers are teaching in the classroom and weave those elements into the stories you write.

30 PB Ideas in 30 Days.

2010-10-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Tara Lazar, I get to play a fun game in November. Picture Book writers have been challenged to the ultimate brainstorm, and I'm in. It sounds simple enough--write down an idea for a picture book story every day in the month of November. Tara has lined up some great guest bloggers to inspire, motivate and keep us on track. If you're feeling up to a challenge, or just need a distraction from the upcoming holidays, sign up on October 31st!

Two Day Conferences

2010-05-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness for 2-day writing conferences. The first day I'm excited. Too excited. When I walk through the door, I'm at the top of the first hill on a roller coaster. I'm brimming with confidence and sure of myself and my writing. Then it happens, click, click, click . . . WOOOSH! Down the hill I go into the pit of despair, regret and frustration.

Why, you ask? The dreaded first pages session. I admit it, I'm Ralphie in A Christmas Story. I think the Editor is going to waltz around the room with my page in her hand singing it's praises and offering me a contract on the spot. But when I get, "You'll shoot your eye out." I'm devastated.

Then, my poor friend Annette, has to listen to this all day, "Why am I hear? Who am I kidding? I must be completely insane trying to publish a PB at a time like this." I leave feeling overwhelmed and ready to quit.

But back at my hotel, I regroup. I reflect on the other things I did that day. I appreciate the workshops I attended and think to myself, "Oh yeah, I'm here to learn."

Day two is an entirely different experience. When I walk through the door, I hop on the Merry-Go-Round. I pick a cheerful-looking seat and listen. The speakers share advice that's pleasant to my ears. Sure, there are still a few ups and downs, but I go with the flow, staying positive and looking at the conference and my writing journey as an enjoyable ride. (And hopefully Annette will forget how crazy I was on day one!)

SCBWI Conferences

2010-05-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

The first writing conference I attended was the SCBWI conference in Seattle, WA. I was excited, and terrified. I rode the train to the big city by myself and jumped on a bus that (I hoped) would take me to Bellevue. It did and after walking around the same block 2 or 3 times, I asked someone how to get to my hotel.

I was so nervous stepping into the conference hall the next morning. But what surprised me the most, was that the room was NOT filled with published authors snubbing me. Everyone was friendly and I even met someone I still keep in touch with 4 years later. In fact, I'll see her today at the Oregon SCBWI conference!

If you've never attended a writing conference, the thought of signing up can be scary. Sometimes it's hard to take the first step. But the IE SCBWI Conference in September is not something to be afraid of. The region is full of friendly, welcoming writers at all levels in their careers. So go ahead, sign-up before June 15th to get the Early Bird discount.

For tips of conference preparedness, check out this blog post on Guide to Literary Agents.

Learning while Reading—John Perry

2010-05-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

If you're wondering, "What's a Picture Book with a good hook?" Then pick up John Perry's first published PB, The Book that Eats People. Illustrated by Mark Fearing. I can't imagine a kid or an adult walking by this book and not stopping to pick it up. And that's the hook. It's the something that gets someone to buy your book. But this book is more than a book. It's a danger to society! It even has its own website.

What hooks you as a PB buyer? If I'm just browsing the shelves at the bookstore, the first thing that draws me to a picture book is the art. Then, I read the title. If I'm interested, I'll read the first page. And if I have to keep turning, I'm hooked.

Mark Fearing's cover illustration for The Book That Eats People caught my eye. It reminded me of the big red monster that chases Bugs Bunny around. And of course I'm intrigued by the title. A book that eats people? Do tell! And when the story begins with a warning, I just have to read on.

John Perry's hook is his dark, unique idea. But there are lots of hooks out there. Tying into a holiday, building around a concept like counting, colors, or ABC's can work too. Kids that love dinos, fire trucks, princesses, or ballerinas, will be hooked by books about dinos, fire trucks, princesses or ballerinas. The key is making your hook unique. If your having trouble coming up with a fresh idea for a hook, try combining them. How about a fire truck driving dinosaur? Hmmmmm . . .

Inland Empire SCBWI Conference 2010

2010-05-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

Registration for the Inland Empire SCBWI Conference is OPEN! Check the website to download a printable brochure and registration form. Early bird prices are available through June 15^th. Register early for your best chance at a critique from a children's book editor or literary agent!

Learning while Reading—An Interview with Lisa Westberg Peters

2010-05-03T06:12:00.000-07:00

I recently picked up Frankie Works the Night Shift at my local library and was impressed by Lisa Westberg Peters' newest picture book. The text of this story is less than 150 words. We often see low word count books from author/illustrators, but how did Lisa do it? I just had to know! Lisa was kind enough to answer some questions for me, and I'm happy to share them with other aspiring PB writers here on my blog.

RH: Editors are requesting low word counts, but oftentimes writers wonder if their manuscript will be understood without adding a lot of art/illustration notes. Could you tell us how you conveyed your vision of this story to your editor?

LWP: For a picture book writer who wants the art to tell part of the story, it can be a tricky journey from manuscript to published book. With this particular manuscript, I inserted art directions throughout. For example, the text says, "He cleans two counters." In parenthesis, it said "skids across the counters and pushes everything off." I wanted the text to convey straight, janitor-like tasks for the cat and the art to convey the opposite idea, that is, chaos. I thought kids would enjoy the dissonance.

It's risky to write this way because you don't know whether everyone down the line, from editor to art director to illustrator, will carry out what you had in mind. But that's true anyway -- as a picture book writer, you never really know how the book will turn out.

I try very hard not to stray into territory that's strictly illustrator territory. I have no business dictating what color the cat should be unless the color of the cat is critical to the story. In this case, it wasn't. You can't believe how many of my friends and family said, "Hey, didn't the illustrator know that the real Frankie was a gray tabby cat?" Who cares? On the other hand, the dissonance between words and art was critical to my vision of the story. I needed to communicate that.

RH: The illustrations and text work in perfect harmony in Frankie Works the Night Shift. Typically, writers and illustrators work separately on a book. Was this the case for you and Jennifer Taylor?

JWP: Yes, Jennifer and I worked separately. We did not collaborate. However, it's typical for the editor to convey and filter any communications between illustrator and author. That was true in this case as well.

I got a chance to meet Jennifer and her husband, Jeff, this spring. They came to St. Paul for a book-signing. It's clear to me that she's a brilliant photographer. I can't begin to describe how hard she worked to achieve the effect she did. I love the art -- it's very contemporary, mischievous, and full of detail that will offer kids new discoveries with each reading.

RH: Which came first, an idea to write a counting book or an idea to write about a cat that works the night shift?

JWP: Our own cat, Frankie, was always busier at night than during the day. It was during the night that he got into the trash, hunted down mice in the basement, knocked over the ironing board, and jumped on and off the bed in an effort to make sure we knew he couldn't sleep. When I realized that he was just doing his job, a cat's job, I was halfway there. The counting book idea came later when I met Susan Hirschman, the founding editor at Greenwillow, and she hinted to me that it might be smart to write a counting book for them. But I also had to figure out a compelling setting. I love hardware stores -- they're so full of widgets and mysterious gadgets -- so that's what I settled on.

Read Lisa's guest blog post on Under the Green Willow in March, to learn more about the real Frankie and how he inspired her to write this book.

Illustrator, Jennifer Taylor blogs here about Frankie's casting call and her process for this book.

Thanks again, Lisa, for explaining how you worked with your editor and illustrator to create a humorous, low word count PB. Thinking ahead about the art and how it will contribute to your story is important for PB writers. Illustration notes can be tricky. Including those that explain your vision for the story may be necessary. Those that explain unimportant details should be left out. And understanding the difference between the two is imperative.

Learning while Reading—Lynn Downey

2010-04-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

Repetition is common in picture books,. It's a great way to get readers and those being read to, involved in your story. It establishes pattern. Repetition can add humor, "How goes the work? Quack." It can calm and sooth, "Goodnight, room. Goodnight, moon." And it can help kids learn to read, "I do not like them, Sam I am."

There are many different ways to add repetition to your story. You may choose to have a character repeat a specific phrase. You can structure the telling of your story around a specific pattern. You can repeat an action your character takes. Or, like Ms. Downey, you can use repetition to emphasize something important.

In The Flea's Sneeze, Lynn Downey uses repetition to set the stage. She emphasizes the peaceful, sleeping barnyard setting by successfully repeating a rhyming, rhythmical phrase. There's just one little problem. Someone isn't sleeping! The repeating stanza is interrupted the smallest of creatures, a tiny flea with a head cold. And we just know he's going to cause some trouble! when the flea finally breaks the silence (and tension) with a big sneeze, the peaceful barnyard jumps to attention. Ms. Downey ends the book with the same repeating pattern, but like any good picture book author, she doesn't forget the twist!

Look at some of your favorite picture books that include repetition and try adding some to a story of your own.

The Perfect Earth Day Picture Book

2010-04-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

THIS TREE COUNTS

A Blog Tour with Author, Alison Formento

A little over a month ago, my critique partner and friend, Alison Formento's first picture book was released. This Tree Counts is a wonderful book to read in celebration of Earth Day. In honor of this important holiday, Alison is doing a blog tour and FREE book give-away this week. Yesterday, Alison visited Jody Jensen Shaffer's blog and tomorrow, she'll stop by Mona Pease's Live Journal.

RH: Welcome, Alison! In your interview with Jody yesterday, you mentioned that a tree inspired you to write This Tree Counts. Could you tell us a little bit about this tree? What else inspires you as a writer?

AF: There's a huge Oak tree with a wind-twisted trunk that leans across a stream in a nearby nature preserve where I like to walk. Whenever I see it, I'm always amazed by the way it continues to grow, almost sideways, and wondered what this tree would say if it could talk. I was also affected and saddened by the sight of bulldozers leveling an apple orchard to build a strip mall a few miles from my home. The orchard was over a hundred years old and for the builder, those trees no longer mattered. It inspired me to write how all trees count, in so many ways.

I'm inspired by everything. I know that's a broad statement, but ideas for new stories can originate from something as small as a shell on a beach, an article I read in the newspaper, or attending a special event like watching fireworks over the Statue of Liberty. Inspiration always comes from children, too—my own included. My goal is to connect with young readers, so I do my best to think like a kid when working on a new story.

RH: Could you tell us how This Tree Counts can be used in the classroom?

AF: THIS TREE COUNTS! is a counting book with an environmental theme. It encourages the discovery of the connection between plants, animals and people. A free downloadable Teacher's Guide is available on my website and it's full of springtime, Earth Day, Arbor Day, and several fun "green" activities, as well as links to other kid-friendly environmental sites. Another message that teachers can use from my book is how a small seed can become a tree, just like a tiny idea can grow into something bigger, like a poem, or story. I hope that my book encourages a classroom to plant one or many trees.

RH: If you could be any species of tree, what type would you be and why?

Do I have to choose one? I love so many different kinds of trees and I'm still learning about new species as I post "A Tree A Day" on my website. Maybe I could be a combo tree—a new species of many fabulous trees combined? Eucalyptus, pine, cherry, maple, red birch, aspen, willow.... Like I said, I can't choose one.

Wow, that would be some tree, Alison! I want to mention your illustrator, too. Sarah Snow brought your words to life. I get a calm, deep breath feeling when I look at the pictures. Congratulations to you, Sarah and your publisher, Albert Whitman. It truly is a great book.

Happy Earth Day this Thursday, everyone, and don't forget to stop by Mona Pease's Live Journal tomorrow for more questions and answers with Alison Formento.

Learning While Reading—Margie Palatini

2010-04-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

Many aspiring picture book writers would love to have a career as successful as Margie Palatini's. But as aspiring writers, what can we learn from the many books she has on the shelves?

Margie has a noticeable, notable style to her picture books. I checked out a large stack of her work, and discovered . . .

Ms. Palatini is a wordsmith.

word·smith–noun 1. an expert in the use of words.

Being a wordsmith is an imperative skill to have when attempting to write a picture book. The use of fun, tongue-tingling language is a must. We hear and read how to cut, cut, cut words from our picture book manuscripts.

Less than 1,000. No more than 750. Try to stay around 500.

This is what editors want to see, picture book stories written as tightly as possible.

But making sure those words are playful and fun is also important. If you'd like to see how an expert does it, check out Margie Palatini's books today!

Inland Empire SCBWI Conference 2010

2010-04-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

The brochure is printed, so it must be official!

The Inland Empire SCBWI conference, "Step in the Write Direction," will be held September 18, 2010. As conference publicist , I am thrilled to announce this year's event will be held at the MAC, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Washington.

Featured Speakers include, Kate Sullivan, Editor with Poppy and Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Kendra Marcus, Agent with BookStop Literary, Author/Illustrator, Terry Sloat, and Picture Book Author, Deb Lund.

Early Bird registration is May 1 - June 15. Please visit the Inland Empire's website after May 1st to print out your registration form. Members will receive their copy by mail prior to May 1st.

Please check this blog each month for conference updates and interviews with featured speakers!

Learning while Reading—Babette Cole

2010-04-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

From the author's bio on the back flap of Drop Dead: Babette Cole has written and illustrated many "one of a kind" children's books.

One of a kind is right.

Babette tackles difficult subjects like death, divorce and where do babies come from, with humor, honesty and a "life isn't always rainbows and butterflies" attitude.

In her book, Drop Dead, we celebrate the life of two old wriklies. When they reflect on their imminent demise, the message is straight-forward. No tears are shed, death is just a part of life. (And then you're recycled.) The Un-Wedding, takes a similar approach on divorce. Two people have grown apart and they argue every day. The solution is simple and to the point. An un-wedding is held and everyone is happy, especially the kids. Mommy Laid An Egg is another uncomfortable subject done with humor and some seriously hilarious illustrations. If you haven't read this one, it's worth a look.

What did I learn from reading Babette Cole? Kids need books about life, real life. Not just dancing ponies and talking dump trucks. Sometimes there isn't a happy ending. Writing about difficult subjects isn't easy. I greatly admire her ability to tell these stories without focusing on 'lessons to be learned' and without talking down to her readers.

Poetry in Your Backyard

2010-04-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

The Poets.org website has a great feature that allows you to learn a little bit about poetry in your home state. If you go to their website, click Poetry Near You at the top, then Poetry Map, you can select your state to discover fun facts about poetry in your area. Here is Washington State's page. It even offers links to small local publishers and literary journals that accept poetry submissions. Check it out!

Learning while Reading—Laurel Snyder

2010-04-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

Inside the Slidy Diner by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Jamie Zollars, was published in 2008 by Tricycle Press. I checked this book out to learn more about the books Tricycle currently publishes. If you're interested in working with a specific publisher, it's important to read books from their list. You'll gain a sense of their interests and know whether or not your manuscript is a good fit.

With a publisher's picture book list, one thing I like to do is read the titles and write down the subject or general theme the book covers. This gives me an overall feel for their interests. I wasn't really sure what Slidy Diner was about, but after reading it, I discovered the theme was, EWWWW! Kids love to be grossed out and Inside the Slidy Diner delivers! The setting is mysterious, the supporting cast of characters is spooky, and the food is Blech!

Laurel Snyder taught me that Tricycle looks for unique stories with lots of kid appeal. And she reminded me that kids love to laugh at disgusting stuff.

National Poetry Month

2010-04-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

April is National Poetry Month. How will you celebrate?

For inspiration, head to the National Poetry Month website and sign up for Poem-A-Day.

Picture book writing is a form of poetry, even if you don't write in rhyme. The words should be carefully chosen. The sentences should have rhythm. The story should evoke emotion. If you have a manuscript that seems a little flat, work on it this month. Read it out loud. Tickle the reader's tongue and the listener's ear with words that POP! Roll your story along with a rhythmic beat. Perfect the ending with a surprising twist to bring out the intended emotion.

Learning while Reading—Ernst & Axelrod

2010-03-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

Two picture books that I recently picked up at the library taught me a bit about story endings. A successful picture book needs to emotionally connect with the reader. This usually comes at the end of the story, when everything comes together and makes the reader say "Awww," or "Ah-Ha!" or "Ha-Ha-Ha!" The main character achieves their goal.

In, Zinnia and Dot by Lisa Campbell Ernst, two main characters (a couple of mother hens) fight for the last egg in the henhouse. Having two MC's work against each other builds tension and the reader's curiosity. How will these ladies solve their unsolvable problem? Well, I'm not one to give away a great ending, so you'll have to find out for yourself!

Amy Axelrod ends her story, My Last Chance Brother, in a clever way. Max's older brother Gordon is driving Max crazy. So Max uses his birthday wish to turn Gordon into Bug Boy. Max just has to get through the day, and tomorrow, all his problems will be solved. On each page we learn that Gordon truly is THE most annoying brother in the world and we want him to become Bug Boy too. What happens to Gordon and Max? Read Amy's book to find out. You won't be disappointed!

For me, ending are tough to write. We usually know from the start what the inevitable outcome should be, but working in that emotional surprise our readers aren't expecting isn't easy!

And that's what I learned while reading—Ernst and Axelrod.

Learning while Reading—Tedd Arnold

2010-03-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

Tedd Arnold is an Author/Illustrator of more than 30 picture books for kids. I checked out 2 of Tedd's books from the library last week, No More Water in the Tub published in 1995, and Parts, published in 1997.

Reading these two books taught me that authors and illustrators evolve. If you covered up the author's name at the bottom of these two books, you may think they were created by two different people, but Tedd wrote and illustrated both. The picture style and story-telling are noticeably different.

If you read Tedd's biography on Scholastic (which I linked to above) you'll discover No More Water in the Tub was his second book. The art inside is amazing and reminds me of Chris Van Allsburg's style. The story itself, while creative and adventurous, is a higher in word count and would probably be a tough sell today for a non-illustrating author.

In Parts, Tedd comes into his own googly-eyed style. The word count drops way down and the humor jumps way up. The character's problem is unique and his flying sweat beads and eye-popping expressions really let us know how he's feeling. Tedd carries on this style in his career today with his latest picture book characters, Green Wilma and Fly Guy.

As authors and/or illustrators, we're evolving and improving each time we sit down to work on our craft. And that's what I learned from reading—Tedd Arnold.

Learning while Reading—Lauren Child

2010-03-14T18:19:00.001-07:00

Lauren Child is a well known picture book author and illustrator. If you don't recognize her by name, you're probably familiar with her distinct characters that grace picture book covers on display at your bookstore. I recently picked-up two of her books, Snow is my Favorite and my Best, and The Pesky Rat.

Something that stood out for me in Snow, was the voice of her characters, Charlie and Lola. Oftentimes, picture books are written in 3^rd person with an adult voice that appeals to children. But in Lauren's book, Lola's older sister Charlie tells the story. Both characters have true, genuine voices.

I've read more than one picture book manuscript where the author uses baby talk to capture a child's voice. This usually doesn't work. If you're trying to tell a story with a young voice, check out Lauren Child's Snow is my Favorite and my Best to see how it can be done successfully.

The Pesky Rat is basically a "new pet" story. But Lauren adds a twist on every page. These twists add humor and bring something original to the Picture Book shelves. Reading, A Pesky Rat confirms my belief that you can take a common idea children are familiar with, twist the character, the setting, the action your MC takes and especially the ending to create a creative, unique story kids and parents will love to share.

And that's what I learned while reading—Lauren Child.

An Earth Day Picture Book

2010-03-01T09:17:00.000-08:00

My critique partner and friend, Alison Formento, has something to celebrate today. The release of her first picture book! This Tree Counts celebrates trees and incorporates a little counting

along the way.

This is a great Earth Day picture book for teachers to share in their classroom. Alison has a free Teacher's Guide available on her website, just follow the link above to obtain your copy.

It was a pleasure seeing this story as a little sapling. One of it's branches snagged an editor's attention, and with beautiful illustrations by Sarah Snow, it's grown into a wonderful picture book. Congratulations, Alison!

2010 Inland Empire SCBWI Conference

2010-02-05T09:46:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to be on the small planning committee for this year's Inland Empire SCBWI Conference in Spokane, Washington. I'm in charge of promotion, so I will post occasional updates here.

2009 was my first year in attendance at the IE conference. I have been to the Oregon conference in Portland and the Western Washington conference in Seattle. The Inland Empire is a smaller region, but it's packed with talented writers committed to keeping the region strong by encouraging participation and supporting writers at all levels.

Planning for the 2010 conference is underway. There is talk of an exciting new venue change, plans for an editor AND an agent, and presentations that will take each attendee one step further in their writing career. If you're an illustrator, a writer of picture books, middle-grade or YA or if you're just starting out, there will be something for you.

Mark your calendars for September 18th, and start filling those piggy banks. Registration brochures will be available in the spring!

It's a Party!

2010-01-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

A purple picture book party! Debut picture book author, Jean Reidy, is celebrating the launch of her picture book TOO PURPLEY! by hosting an online party on her website. Come join me here for all the fun. Opportunities abound with chances to win:

** Free copies of TOO PURPLEY!

** Free coloring pages and games for the kids

** Picture book critiques for authors

** A free Skype author visit for teachers and librarians!

Pass an invitation to your friends, and don't forget your favorite teachers and librarians. A FREE author visit is rare and kids LOVE them!

Best Picture Books of 2009

2009-12-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

2009 is coming to an end. It was a great year for books of all shapes and sizes, but here are three lists of the best Picture Books that came out this year.

Amazon Editor's Picks

Readings.com

Publisher's Weekly

Discoveries

2009-11-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, I opened an email from Get Lit!, a Spokane, WA group that organizes an annual lit festival in April. A month or so ago, I had signed up to receive email updates about the festival, but was so excited to discover they had year-round events posted on a calendar on their website! I clicked my mouse a few times and found that picture book author and illustrator, Daniel Schallau would be signing his new book, Come Back Soon, at Auntie’s bookstore in downtown Spokane that very afternoon.

Being new to the area, I hadn’t been to Auntie’s, but after perusing the Get Lit! calendar, I knew it was someplace I had to visit. I convinced the family it was the place to be, and we headed out. I was not disappointed! Auntie’s is a wonderful bookstore. But not only that, it has a super cool game store inside and a café next door with a large rectangular window that opens into the bookstore. So inside it smells like books, freshly brewed coffee and tasty café food. Ahhhh.

But now onto Daniel. Daniel was in town to promote his new picture book, Come Back Soon (and to visit his parents). Daniel grew up in the Pacific Northwest, became an architect and met his wife in a Starbucks on NW 23rd in Portland, OR. His wife is originally from Japan, so they moved to Tokyo to be with her family. It was so great to talk with Daniel in person about his book. I got the inside scoop on a lot of the amazing, detailed art within. His background in architecture and his life in Japan, influence the world he’s created inside this book. There is so much to look at and discover in the penguin’s iceberg home. If you know a child that loves looking at little details, they will love pointing out something new in this book each time they pick it up.

Critique Partner Success!

2009-11-02T12:08:00.000-08:00

I am so pleased to announce that one of my critique partners has a published picture book out in the world, ready for you to purchase! Judith Snyder's What Do You See?, encourages children to look at the world in a new way. Readers will use mathematical thinking skills, but they'll never know they're learning! Kids can expand their minds as they flip through the pages and explore their own imagination.

Please visit Judith's website to learn more about this wonderful book and play along on her contest page. Kids can enter too!

An Itty Bitty Writing Conference

2009-09-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, I attended the Inland Empire's SCBWI conference in Spokane WA. It's a much smaller conference than others offered in the Pacific Northwest, but a small conference offers a completely different experience.

The small crowd gave presenters and attendees more opportunity to connect and chat. The editor, authors, and author/illustrator were just like regular people, imagine that! They mingled, they approached attendees, they encouraged, and they offered heart-felt advice.

True, the list of presenters isn't as long as the big conferences, but the opportunity to make connections, and the advice received, is well worth the price of admission.

A Back to School Picture Book

2009-09-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

I checked out a cute picture book at the library, Dog Day by Sarah Hayes, illustrations by Hannah Broadway. It's another great example of an author taking a common subject, adding a clever twist, and creating something new.

It starts out simply, Here is Ben. Here is Ben's lunchbox. Here is Ben's classroom. Here is Ellie. Then you turn the page and the fun begins. Here is Ben's teacher. WOOF! WOOF! Wait a minute . . .

The story continues with Ben and the rest of his classmates learning how to be exceptional canines. Another top notch idea turned into a silly, simple story, making a perfect picture book.

Amazing New Resource for Children's Writers

2009-09-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

My friend, Deb Cushman, just opened the doors to her new one stop shop for online writing resources. If you are a children's writer that loves to hang out on the Internet after writing and revising, check out this site. You can click to your heart's content and consume all the writing information you'll ever need to know. Click Writer Sites to begin.

Three Picture Books About Friendship

2009-08-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

Last week I found my Spokane neighborhood library. I was so happy to find a nice, new building less than 2 miles from home. I picked up a library card and headed straight to the children’s section. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular on this visit, so I went for the librarian’s picks displayed on top of the shelves. Three of the books were about friendship. My Best Friends by Anna Nilsen, Illustrated by Emma Dodd, HELP! A story of Friendship by Holly Keller, and What are Friends For by Sally Grindley, illustrated by Penny Dann.

As a writer, I enjoy taking a look at picture books that address the same issues and topics. It gives me a chance to see how creative authors take a common subject, add their characters, use their words, rhythm and rhyme to make something new.

These books range from very simple text and low word count, to a very involved story with well developed characters. Take a look at these fun picture books to see how a manuscript on an “overdone” subject can become a book on display at your local library.

Setting up in Spokane

2009-08-08T22:04:00.000-07:00

It’s official. I’m now a Spoka-noa-gen. It has been a crazy 6 months. My husband accepted a job in Spokane, WA last October. Spokane is about 6 hours from our home in Camas, WA. He commuted back and forth until the school year ended and the house sold. The family is together for one month, then my daughter starts college. It’s a crazy transition time for us.

But now that my computer is all set up, I’m getting back into the swing of things with my writing. I even got a rejection letter today, so things are back on course. I’ve signed up for the Inland Empire SCBWI conference in September, and I’m looking forward to meeting some local writers. Maybe I’ll even meet a critique partner or two.

Nat'l Picture Book Writing Week (May 1-7)

2009-04-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

Full of inspiration, but lacking motivation? Join me! Go to Paula Yoo's site for info and registration. Hurry, it starts this Friday!

Na-Pi-Bo

Na-Pi-Bo-Wri-Wee!

Writing Friends

2009-03-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't been an active blogger these days. I am in the process of selling my house, organizing a school carnival and helping my daughter prepare for college. I'm also busy writing and submitting my picture book manuscripts to any slush pile that will have me. Check back in May for fuzzy photos and editor/agent tidbits from the WW SCBWI conference. Happy writing friends!

Monkey Man Video

2009-02-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

One of my critique group members was lucky enough to attend the NY SCBWI conference last weekend. She shared this video with our group today. It is soooo funny, you have to check it out. Follow this link > Jarrett Krosoczka

Do you ever have this feeling?

2009-01-26T14:14:00.000-08:00

For the past couple of weeks, I've felt like screaming out, "Oh just reject me and get it over with already!" Phew, I'm so happy to get that out.

I don't wish for rejection of course, but the waiting, waiting, waiting. The daily checking of the Blueboard Response Times. I can't believe I hope for rejection letters, just to see if a personal note is included. Ah the twisted life of the aspiring PB writer. I've decided I'm completely nuts.

WW SCBWI 2009 - Jon Scieszka

2009-01-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

The Western Washington chapter of SCBWI opened registration for their spring conference this past week. I registered on-line and sent my manuscript and first pages off on Friday. This will be my third year attending the conference. The third time's the charm, right?

I'm very excited to hear Jon Scieszka speak at this year's conference. I picked up a book from Jon's new Trucktown series this weekend. This is an incredible series Joh is working on with David Shannon, Loren Long and David Gordon. If you follow the Trucktown link above, you'll see that this series comes out in different levels, from board books to picture books to easy readers. What a great way for kids to follow their favorite characters as they grow.

Mo Willems does it again . . .

2009-01-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

. . . but this time, it’s even funnier!

While strolling through Borders yesterday, I walked past the display for Mo Willems new picture book, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed. This is a must-see picture book, especially if you're looking for a laugh.

When the naked mole rats see one of their fellows wearing clothes, they have the exact reaction I have when I see he naked mole rats at the zoo. EWWW! Not only will kids love hearing the word “naked” a hundred times, but they'll love Wilbur and the little outfits he wears.

The illustrations, while quite tasteful, add to the hilarity. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed is my new favorite Mo book and it looks like it’s getting a similar reaction from his other readers. There were only three copies on the display when I walked up, and when I left, there were two.

Happy 2009

2008-12-31T13:32:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a happy new year filled with acceptance, big book deals, health and happiness.

The Night Before Christmas

2008-12-24T07:37:00.000-08:00

The Night Before Christmas is the classic poem many parents will read before tucking in their little ones tonight, and there are many different illustrated versions to choose from.

The version of Clement C. Moore’s poem that I’ve chosen to feature is Jan Brett’s. Her illustrations are packed full of rich, colorful images--they truly amaze. Jan has a great website that contains as many links as her picture books contain images. If you have never visited before, check it out.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you take time to enjoy a great picture book with your family this holiday season! Merry Christmas!

The Littlest Angel

2008-12-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

We all have special memories of sharing a book with a parent, especially around the holidays. The picture book that brings back holiday memories for me is The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell.

My Mom read, or should say, attempted to read this book to me, my brother and sister every Christmas. When I was old enough, I took over the reading as soon as the Littlest Angel’s box appeared. I thought my mom was so funny, not being able to read about a silly old box filled with rocks, a dead butterfly and a dog collar. But now, as a parent, I can’t read about the Littlest Angel’s treasures without tearing up myself.

Today, you can read this story on-line. It’s not quite the same as sharing it on a cozy couch or snuggled up in bed with accompanying illustrations, but if you are interested, here is the link.

Mortimer's Christmas Manger

2008-12-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

For readers looking for Christmas picture books that contain a message about the first Christmas, check out Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman.

A cute mouse named Mortimer goes looking for a new home and discovers a Christmas manger that’s just his size. With childlike innocence, Mortimer takes over the manger, lugging and tugging the statues out of his new home. Then one night, Mortimer overhears Dad telling a story of the first Christmas and realizes this manger is home for baby Jesus.

Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman have worked together on several books. Karma has great rhythm in her picture book stories and I love reading and learning from her books. Jane’s illustrations are appealing and add to the love the reader feels for the characters.

When Cows Come Home for Christmas

2008-12-21T10:20:00.000-08:00

Today’s picture book is a rhyming story. It is also pretty wacky. When Cows Come Home for Christmas by Dori Chaconas, illustrated by Lynne Chapman tells the story of a most unusual Christmas get-together.

An interesting string of events and the lack of a Christmas tree find a lovely cow named Moosha covered with lights, ornaments and tinsel, with packages placed around her feet.

Like most aspiring picture book writers, I have attempted to tell a story or two in rhyme. I truly appreciate the work that goes into a rhyming picture book. Dori Chaconas came up with a unique story, funny characters, an unusual problem with a kooky solution and told the entire story in rhyme. Lynne Chapman’s illustrations bring us a wonderful group of cows with a variety of age, from baby calves to Grandma.

If you enjoy telling stories in rhyme, check out this page on Dori's site. It was one of the first resources I was pointed to when I started writing for children.

Amazing Peace

2008-12-20T07:28:00.000-08:00

If you happen to have a poem lying around, maybe one that you read at the White House, consider submitting it to a picture book publisher!

Amazing Peace, written by Maya Angelou, illustrated by Steve Johnson, is a wonderful addition to the Christmas picture books on the shelves this season.

Maya Angelou originally read this poem at the lighting of the White House Christmas tree in 2005. It's an amazing poem about peace, coming together and acceptance during the holidays. The warm, inviting illustrations follow a family as they journey out into their community on a cold winter's night. A new, must-have Christmas book, in my opinion.

When Santa Turned Green

2008-12-19T10:52:00.000-08:00

When Santa Turned Green is one of the newer picture books in my 10 days of Christmas PB posts. This book, written by Victoria Perla, illustrated by Mirna Kantarevic was published by Thomas Nelson this past October.

Santa discovers global warming and rallies his troops (children of the world) to solve this environmental problem. The book offers a few suggestions oh how kids can go green. The book itself is green, printed with soy ink on 100% recycled paper.

When Santa Turned Green is an example of how a writer can combine a familiar subject with a current concern or issue to make something new.

Christmas Cookies Picture Book

2008-12-18T11:47:00.000-08:00

The Christmas picture book for today is, Christmas Cookies: Bite-Size Holiday Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Jane Dyer.

This unique picture book teaches kids lessons through words they might hear during the holiday season. All the words--like anticipation, reciprocate, and selfish, are defined with a twist. They are all tied to Christmas cookies. For example, here is what is says for selfish: Selfish means grabbing the last cookie without asking if anyone might want it.

By tying the word definitions to an enjoyable holiday activity, Amy K. Rosenthal has made lesson learning fun! I loved that Jane Dyer chose to illustrate the book with many different scenes and characters. The book could have focused on one particular child or family, but instead we get a whole host of characters and pictures to enjoy.

Literary Christmas Picture Book

2008-12-17T12:57:00.000-08:00

What is literary fiction, and more importantly, what is a literary picture book? I have followed a few discussions on Verla Kay’s blue boards about this topic and I’ve found that literary can be a hard term to define.

Here are two definitions I liked from Verla’s:

A story that examines deeper meanings in life, seeks to unearth universal truths. ~Cheryl Klein

Colorful characters drawn with lyrical language. A layered plot thick with setting and mood. A puzzle of a problem. ~Andi W.

So taking these definitions into consideration, I feel The Polar Express is an excellent example of a literary, Christmas picture book.

Author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg tells a story of childhood innocence and a belief in something bigger than ourselves. He sends his character on a magical journey with beautiful pictures that add depth to the setting and mood of this book. The main character faces a problem that many kids face at his age—whether or not they believe in Santa.

If you would like more examples of what some writers consider literary picture books, follow this link to a discussion on Verla's.

The Sweet Smell of Christmas

2008-12-16T10:38:00.000-08:00

Going into a bookstore this time of year, you're bound to find a few Christmas picture books that contain some type of activity/novelty. In my personal opinion, it doesn’t get much better that The Sweet Smell of Christmas.

I loved this book as a kid, and I still love scratching and sniffing that hot cocoa circle today. The Sweet Smell of Christmas was written by Patricia Scarry, illustrated by J.P. Miller and was originally published in 1970.

Novelty/activity books for toddlers and preschool-age kids seem to be gaining more shelf space at the book store. This age group is learning about their world and books that entertain more than one of heir senses keeps them engaged in the concept or story within.

If you have a story that could benefit from a novelty, such as scratch-and-sniff, touch-and-feel, die-cuts, flaps, puzzles, etc. research the publishers, write your proposal and submit!

Dear Santa, The Letters of James B. Dobbins

2008-12-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

Today’s Christmas picture book was written by Bill Harley and illustrated by R.W. Alley. Dear Santa, The Letters of James B. Dobbins is a story told through letters to Santa.

The main character, James/Jimmy, has a big Christmas list and needs to convince Santa that he has been good all year (despite a few unfortunate events). Bill Harley brings a great voice to the main character through these letters. In the beginning the letters are formal, but in the end Jimmy and Santa are best buds. The illustrations are entertaining and paint the true picture of the naughty incidents that have occurred during the past year.

There are a few other picture books told through letters or postcards. It's a fun way to get into the voice of a character and can even be a fun writing exercise, whether or not you plan to write a story this way.

10 Christmas Picture Books

2008-12-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

Writers often run into a common problem. We have an idea, or we’re working on a manuscript, or we’re sealing a submission envelope only to discover a book on the shelves closely matches our story. Our hopes are dashed.

I thought it would be fun to take a subject like Christmas, and look at how authors and artists have found different ways to tell their story around a similar subject. For the next ten days I will post ten different Christmas picture books. Some are new, some are old, but each book is unique.

The first book is one in a series that I’m sure you’re familiar with. I Spy Christmas by Walter Wick and Jean Marzollo is filled with beautiful photographs and short, fun rhymes that kids and grown-ups will love discovering together. When my son was five, he was a huge I Spy fan. These books offer a different reading experience, more of a game than a story, but kids (especially boys IMO) love I Spy books.

Walter Wick’s photographs in I Spy Christmas are amazingly constructed and full of Christmas images. His unique idea and artistic talent came together with Jean Marzollo's rhymes to create a great Christmas picture book.

The Chicken of the Family

2008-12-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

This week, my favorite library book is The Chicken of the Family by Mary Amato, illustrate by Delphne Durand. You may be familiar with some of Mary's middle grade novels, The Word Eater and The Naked Mole-Rat Letters, but this is Mary's first picture book. And boy, is it hilarious!

One of the reasons I love this book is because I was so Kim (the older sister) when I was a kid. I was the big-meanie big sister. The story is well told, incredibly funny and great for kids with older siblings.

The illustrations are so much fun. Delphine has created a host of clever characters on the farm, chickens, ducks, bunnies, and the dog with the flower is adorable.

This book was published in 2008, so it is fairly new. Look for it in your library or bookstore today!

Readertotz

2008-12-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

I'm sure this is "old news" in kid-lit land, but I was so excited to read in my PW e-newsletter that Readergirlz have started a new blog. Readertotz is a book blog that focuses on board books and other titles for the toddler set. If you haven't seen it, stop by and check it out.

Bear Feels Scared

2008-11-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

Bear Feels Scared is the newest “Bear” book by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman. This book is written in rhyme and tells a story that connects with both parents and children on an emotional level.

Editors are looking for picture book manuscripts that children will love to listen to and parents will enjoy reading over and over again. Bear Feels Scared is a perfect example of this type of book. Ms. Wilson does an excellent job connecting with the true emotions of a child through bear. A big storm is approaching, bear is alone, and boy, is he scared! Children know bear’s fears and will easily relate to this “all alone” feeling. As a parent, I was rooting for Bear’s loyal friends to find him. Their actions are nurturing and loving, just like a parent’s.

The illustrations by Ms. Chapman are beautiful. The colors she’s chosen set the mood. In the beginning, they are the sky at sunset. Then they change with the reader’s emotions, dark and stormy, warm and cozy. In the end, all the colors come together on Bear’s snugly quilt.

If you are looking for an example of a picture book both parents and children will love reading over and over, check out Bear Feels Scared

Too Many Frogs

2008-11-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Have you heard editors say they are looking for “quirky, character-driven” picture book manuscripts? Well if you have, and you’re looking for a good example, check out Too Many Frogs by Sandy Asher, illustrated by Keith Graves. The playful illustrations by Mr. Graves combine with the creative characters and fun language written by Ms. Asher, to make an off-beat, original PB. You’ll find the story “character-driven” because Rabbit’s character and his change in character drive the story. How Rabbit reacts to an unexpected visitor during his quiet time and the inner struggle Rabbit faces with this new intrusion is the story behind Too Many Frogs. If you feel your writing style is quirky, you may want to check out other books published by Philomel Books, they have a very creative PB list.

Portland Area Book Lovers

2008-11-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Wordstock Book Festival is this weekend at the Portland Convention Center. This will be my first year attending, I’ve heard wonderful things about this annual event. I’m looking forward to meeting Bonnie Becker, and saying hello to Lisa Schroder.

Mrs. Biddlebox

2008-11-05T11:21:00.000-08:00

Looking for an example of a great rhyming picture book? Check out Mrs. Biddlebox by Linda Smith, illustrated by Marla Frazee. As I read, I was surprised the author and illustrator weren’t the same person. Linda Smith’s fun and unique rhyme about a woman who wakes up on the wrong side of the bed is perfectly complimented by the first dreary, then playful, colorful illustrations by Marla Frazee. (Marla has a great article on picture books that can be accessed from the link.)

2008-11-04T08:13:00.000-08:00

Fly your freedom flag, VOTE!

More Thoughts on Picture Book Characters

2008-11-03T09:59:00.000-08:00

I wanted to spin off my last about picture book series. One of my critique group partners, Ryan, commented on how writing an existing character into another story and thinking in terms of series for any character you create can add to the development of that character. I agree 100%.

This got me thinking about one of my manuscripts. I worked on this story while taking an on-line writing class. The class was on story structure and primarily focused on novel writing. I knew my story would always be a picture book story, but as part of the class I created an in-depth plan for the story, plot and characters. I think expanding on the idea of these elements helped me bring more to my MC and his story. This particular manuscript (while it hasn’t sold—yet), has brought me some positive feedback from editors and agents.

Editors and agents want to feel a connection with our character(s), and isn’t that the challenge in the 500 word PB manuscript? Especially if you aren’t the artist and can’t add the artistic details you imagine n your head.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T10:13:00.000-07:00

BOO!

Successful PB Series

2008-10-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

At the bookstore the other day, I saw the new If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond. This book got me thinking about 2 different types of picture books which I’m going to call—Character Driven PB’s and Story Driven PB’s. Not all Picture Books fall into these two categories, but there have been some very successful series built on these types of stories.

Characters like Olivia, the Pigeon, Fancy Nancy and Skippy-Jon-Jones make such a strong connection with readers, we just can’t seem to get enough. We want to see them at the circus, eating hot dogs, walking posh puppies and finding big bones.

Story Driven PB’s like, If you give a Mouse a Cookie, I Stink and Diary of a Worm have also spurred successful spin-off’s. These stories are told in similar fashion with new characters and settings dropped into the mix. Readers connect with the way the story is told, the rhythm of the words, the originality of the concept and/or the humor.

If you are looking for a new story to tell, place one of your favorite characters in a new setting or add a new MC to a well told PB manuscript. You might just find yourself with a successful series of your own!

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon

2008-10-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

I picked up some great Picture Books at the library this week. It was tough choosing a favorite, but I’ve decided on Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell. As a reader, I chose this book for it's lovable character, Molly Lou. She's a spunky little gal with a lot of self confidence. As a writer, I chose this book for its excellent pacing. There are many ways to tell a story, but if you want your story to become a published picture book, it will need to be paced the picture book way.

Ms. Lovell rhythmically paces her story to fit the 32 page picture book format. The beginning sets up her character, the problem is introduced on the 9th page spread and the MC solves her problem just like we knew she should--thanks to the great character intro. Check out Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon if you want to pace your stories the picture book way.

Children's Poet Laureate

2008-10-09T16:10:00.000-07:00

One of my critique partners, Alison, informed our group that Mary Ann Hoberman has been named the Children's Poet Laureate. This was also the lead story on my PW Children's Newsletter today, so I thought I would post a link to Mary's website to promote her books.

Wangari's Trees of Peace

2008-10-05T18:08:00.000-07:00

I typically check out 3-13 picture books a week from the library. I’ve decided to add a blog post, sharing my favorite library book of the week.

My favorite picture book this week is Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter. This is a wonderful non fiction picture book based on the life of Wangari Maathai., winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

The story is told simply for its target audience but is also truthful, telling how Wangari was beaten with clubs and imprisoned for standing tall to protect the old trees of Kenya.

The story is inspirational and empowering with an environmental push that is so appropriate for the day. Thank you for telling this story, Jeanette Winter!

What’s a Kidlitosphere?

2008-09-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well, that’s what I wanted to know, so I decided to attend the 2008 Kidlitosphere Conference in Portland, Oregon last Saturday. The sphere, I’ve learned, is a community of techno-savvy bloggers that consume, review and recommend top notch children’s books. Some claim there is a skin surrounding the sphere, others say its more of a permeable membrane.

At the conference I discovered I have a “boring author blog”. At first I was a little disappointed in this revelation, but I am coming to accept it now. I realize that my personal goal is to perfect my PB manuscripts and rise to the top of the slush pile. I also have that whole “Mom” thing going right now, so blogging everyday isn’t something I can commit to.

I am going to try kicking my blog up a notch with some tips I got from Mother Reader. Gregory K. also gave some great advice on using a blog as a marketing tool. I had a great time learning from these blogging pros and some of them were so funny!

So, I don't think I've broken into the sphere yet, but maybe they'll let me hang around outside and peek in once in awhile.

Other Kidlitosphere links you may want to check out. Cybils, Chasing Ray, Just One More Book, and Fuse #8.

Blogiversary

2008-09-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Today is my one year blogiversary! It's been a fun and interesting year learning about the world of blogs. A week from today I'm attending the Kitlitosphere Blog Conference in Portland, Oregon. I hope to get some inspiring tips and a few in-focus photos to share. Happy writing, happy blogging everyone!

Back to Work

2008-09-06T20:29:00.000-07:00

It was a fun and glorious summer, but now it's time to get my butt-in-chair and start writing again.

I like to get a little jump-start on my writng in the fall. My copy of CWIM arrived this week and it contains a lot of great articles for picture book writers this year. I also discovered this article recently about picture book writng. I think it offers some interesting new insight.

Busy August

2008-08-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

August is a busy month for the Hambys. We are doing a lot of traveling. I thought I would share a photo
of our recent trip to Yellowstone. If you haven't been there, this is Old Faithful. If you have been there, I'm sure you have a very similar photo in your collection.

Only 12 more days til school starts and my uninterrupted writing time begins! Yeah!

Funky Names

2008-07-24T09:08:00.001-07:00

Are you looking for an unusual name for a character in one of your stories? Check out some of these real life examples in this article I read today. YIKES!

A Word Cloud and an SQ Update

2008-07-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

Check out this Word Cloud I made from one of my PB manuscripts. This is very fun.

Thanks for all the great comments on the status query post. I'm not sure where most manuscripts go, Ryan. I imagine most get lost once they reach the publisher. I've never seen a slush pile, but I've heard they are big and scary.

I did find out what happened to one of my manuscripts, though. A PB I sent to an editor at Sterling was lost in the shuffle when she left the company. This was a big bummer for me. She had requested a revision, I sent the revision and then found out yesterday she left the company. Thank goodness I sent that status query!

Just a typical let-down for the aspiring children's writer. The editor that is reading the afore mentioned editor's mail was complimentary and did ask me to send more manuscripts her way, which is a good thing. So, I'll keep looking on the bright side of life with my fingers crossed.

How about thank-you cards? Have you ever sent one to an editor? I was thinking of sending one to my new contact at Sterling, thanking her for reading my manuscript and sending the personal letter. Any thoughts?

Status Query

2008-07-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I sent out my first status queries. I was a little unsure if I should send them, but ultimately I decided it was important to find out what was going on with my work.

Since I had never sent a SQ before, I wasn’t sure how it was done. I took a few tips from the Verla Kay Message Board, and crafted a cover letter That looked something like this:

Dear Editor,

On (date) I sent you a _____ manuscript titled ______. Could you please let me know the status of this manuscript?
_____ Under Consideration
_____ Not Yet Read
_____ Not received. Please Resend.
_____ Rejected on ___________
_____ Other: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________

Thank you very much for letting me know what is happening with _______.

I included an SASE. This can also be put on a SAS postcard, but I didn't have any postcards or postcard stamps in the house.

My SQ’s came back within 10 days! Both were marked “Not received. Please resend”. A bit of a bummer, but the manuscripts are back out there, hoping land on an editor’s desk soon.

A Chapter is Born

2008-06-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

With a little push, I was able to start my first chapter this morning. I have spent the last couple of weeks working on an outline and character sketches for my first chapter book, but had been afraid to start the actual writing. Well, today I did it! I opened a document, titled it Chapter 1 and typed over 850 words.

I got a little nudge from this blog. Lisa Schoeder is doing a series of posts about beginnings, middles and ends. It was just the shove in the right direction I needed. It's a great blog if you haven't seen it before. Informative posts from the writers and it's funny too.

Learning from Sesame Street

2008-06-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

Mo Willems worked for Sesame Street for 9 years. Here is a quote from Mo about how that experience helped him in his writing. (This quote is from a recent interview Mo did on NPR.)

“It taught me that funny is funny and not to talk down to kids. It also taught me the glory of brevity. You really have to write very short bits. The one thing that kids don’t have is cultural modifiers. If you say “the Eiffel Tower” that might not mean anything, because they haven’t experienced these things. So you have to be pure in your comedy, pure in your writing. You can’t lean on cultural assumptions. Which makes it one level harder, but it also makes it a lot more exciting.”

Summer!

2008-06-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I went out of town to visit family. Some of the ideas for my new story are inspired by farmer's markets. So, while I was visiting my family, I talked them into going to a local farmer's market in 96 degree weather. It was very hot and crowded, but I got some pictures of the market to take home for inspiration. My family is so nice to put up with me.

I also had a chance to tell my 85 year old grandma about a picture book I have been sending out. She thought it was a wonderful idea for a story. I wish she was my agent!

More than 1,000 Words

2008-06-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

The idea of writing anything longer than a picture book really freaks me out. 500-700 words is absolutely my comfort zone. But this week a few things came together and I have decided to attempt my first chapter book, probably middle-grade.

It started with a title, something that just popped into my head while looking at a kid’s backpack. This is a seriously awesome title. I would share it, but I fear a better writer than I would steal it and finish their book in a week. And, yes titles are often changed, but this title is so spectacular an editor would be crazy to push it aside. (I hope you don’t think I’m being smug, the title is the only thing I’m confident about!)

My other inspiration is a girl that’s a sister to one of the boys on my son’s baseball team. She is quite a character and has been fun to observe during slow moments at the baseball games. So this girl, the title and a few various memories from my childhood came swirling into focus and I just had to go with it. I’ve started an outline, character sketches and have been doing some research. It's a really fun process when you are excited about the story you want to tell.

I am still very intimidated however. The idea of writing dialogue, similes and metaphors is making my head spin. This will be an interesting process. Let me know if you have any tips!

Back to Reality

2008-06-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, my hours, days, weeks and months of hard work finally payed off. I have been organizing a carnival for my son’s elementary school and it was a huge success. Yeah!

Now it’s back to life, back to reality. It’s nice to be back. I have not submitted anything since March (ugh). I’m looking forward to reviewing my conference notes, revising some stories with tips from my paid critiques and getting stuff out in the mail!

More on the OR SCBWI Conference

2008-05-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, the Oregon SCBWI Conference was full of informative workshops. Kirby Larson strengthened our voices, Lisa Schroeder taught us revision techniques and Shannon Riggs inflated our characters.

Shannon passed out a great hand-out on character development that I thought I would share. I found it to be a great exercise.

First, draw a circle and divide it into 6 pie pieces. In the middle of the circle, write your character’s name and age. Then label the surrounding pie slices: Friends, Hobbies, Quirks, Pet or Romance, School or Work, Family. In each of these areas write down everything you know about this aspect of your character's life. Shannon reminded us to do this for each character. The more developed our characters, the better the story.

The day ended with presentations from Lisa Graff and Harold Underdown. Lisa showed us funny pictures of hats. As writers, we need to wear two hats--a writer’s hat and an editor’s hat. She stressed the importance of letting your creativity flow during the writing process and leaving the editor’s hat off until it’s time for revisions.

Harold spoke about the market and how book sales seem to be holding on, even in this tough economy. He talked about the upcoming elections and how important it is to know your candidate’s position on Education. Strong education funding = more books!

Oregon SCBWI Conference

2008-05-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, it feels like I just finished my 10 day blog about the Seattle conference and now I’m here to tell you about the Oregon conference. I won’t do the 10 full days again, probably just 2. As an added bonus, I’m going to treat you to some half-way decent flower photos instead of blurry conference shots. Yeah!

The Oregon conference was much smaller than Western Washington’s. More intimate with a great opportunity to talk with editors and presenters at lunch.

On Friday, they offered “Wow them with Words” or “Wow them with Pictures”. I attended the writing workshops. The first ½ was a First Pages session with Harold Underdown of Purple Crayon fame and Wendy McClure from Albert Whitman. FYI, Harold doesn’t like animal stories.

After lunch, we were treated to a few writing exercises with Lisa Graff from Farrar Strauss and Giroux. She was very fun, energetic and encouraging. One of the exercises was to write your MC into a completely different setting. Mine turned out super lame, but those that read out-loud were very clever.

Phew!

2008-05-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was a facilitator at a Young Author's Conference hosted by our local school district. It was a fun experience. Kids from the district's elementary schools were chosen by their teacher to attend the 2 1/2 hour workshop.

When the children arrived, they were broken out into small groups. They each brought a piece of writing to share within their small group. They read their piece aloud and the facilitators encouraged comments, compliments and questions.

After sharing, we headed to the gym to hear children's author, Eric Kimmel speak. He gave the kids (and me) some great words of advice and encouragement. Here are a few tips from Eric.

**Your whole story hangs on how your MC solves the problem. It must be original and believable.

**When he is writing, he stops at the climax and asks himself: Who is my antagonist? Have I know people like this? How were they stopped?

**The antagonist is always focused on how he will bring down the protagonist. This is the antagonist's downfall. He/she doesn't see the big picture.

#10 Arthur Levine or Sasquatch Sighting?

2008-05-07T10:37:00.000-07:00

I swear this is Arthur Levine. Maybe Vijaya (on the left) will pop in and confirm the sighting. Hopefully this writing thing works out, because Lord knows I don’t have a future as a Paparazzo.

I was thrilled to hear Arthur Levine was coming to the conference. I would expect to see him in New York or L.A., but lil’ ol’ Seattle? This year’s conference line-up was incredible, and Arthur was the cherry-on-top.

I attended one of Arthur’s breakout sessions—a Q&A about the publishing biz. He was personable and professional, answering questions with well explained, respectful responses.

Arthur also made the final Key Note Address on Sunday. He said every well-told story must successfully tie together these elements, plot, theme, characterization and voice. He was very funny and comfortable on stage, waking us up with humorous comments when he noticed our faces begin to glaze over. (It had been a long couple of days, after all.)

Alas, I did not speak to him in person. He was certainly approachable, but I didn’t have much to say. “Uh, you’re really cool,” was all I could come up with at the Wine and Cheese Reception. Thank goodness I kept my lips zipped.

#9 Editor Tidbits

2008-05-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty, shall we? Which editors attended the conference and what are they looking for? Here is what I scratched out during the Editor Panel.

Jessica Garrison with Dial edits Picture Books, Easy Readers, MG and YA. She is looking for New Authors and Illustrators. Character driven, universal themes, personal fresh tale, write from your heart, but use your brain. Think of a new way to tell your story.

Randi Rivers, Editor with Charlesbridge edits Picture Books, Easy Readers, Chapter Books and MG.

Gary Luke, Publisher from Sasquatch Books (small press in Seattle) publishes 4 picture books a year with a regional northwest/Alaskan theme. Natural, regional history.

Nina Hess, Senior Editor at Mirrorstone (based in Seattle) is looking for fantasy fiction.

Lisa Abrahms, Senior Editor with Aladdin Paperbacks mentioned that they are now doing hardback books, there name may change to just Aladdin. She is looking for graphic novels, girl coming of age, action, adventure, fantasy or touch of fantasy.

I also have notes for an Emily Mitchell who appears to be a Senior Editor, but I can’t find her info in the handouts, so I don’t know where she works. Anyone? I have some great notes though. She likes to develop the authors she works with. She had a hard time in science and math as a child. If you can find clear, kid-friendly ways to explain these concepts in your non-fiction, she would love to see it. She loves comedy and writing that evokes strong emotion.

#8 The Critique

2008-05-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

A paid critique is a wonderful opportunity. It's a chance to get a professional’s insight on a manuscript.

I was so excited to sit with Kirby Larson and hear what she had to say about my Picture Book story. This is only my second conference critique, but with both, I had a good sense of what my story lacked before I stepped into the room. This happens to me a lot. I’ll send something off, confident in my work, but as time passes and I think more about the story, I realize how and where it needs improvement.

Kirby was great. It must be difficult sitting on her side of the table, not knowing what the reaction of the person sitting across from you will be . Lucky for Kirby, I didn't scream, cry or give her any dirty looks. She was very considerate and extremely thorough. I can clearly see where my manuscript needs improvement. I haven’t figured out how to do it yet, but I’m excited to look at it with a fresh perspective. Thanks Kirby!

#7 2007 Newbery Dream Team

2008-05-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

The Western Washington SCBWI Conference was expanded to a two day event this year. The Newbery Panel on Sunday was an incredible addition and the workshops these ladies led were a big hit.

The Newbery Dream Team was just that: Susan Patron, Newbery Medalist for The Higher Power of Lucky, Kirby Larson, 2007 Newbery Honor Medalist for Hattie Big Sky, Cynthia Lord 2007 Newbery Honor Medalist for Rules and Jennifer Holm (via teleconference) 2000 Newbery Honor Medalist for Our Only May Amelia and 2007 Newbery Honor Medalist for Penny from Heaven.

The Panel was led by Elizabeth Bird. Elizabeth was like a proud mother hen introducing the authors she herself had selected to receive the coveted Newbery. Each panelist told the story of how they’d heard the good news. It was an early morning call for most, from a mind-game-playing judge.

“Is this Cynthia Lord?”
“Yes”
“Cynthia Lord, author of the book Rules?”
“Yes”

They also shared how their lives have changed since the Newbery. It was inspiring to hear these women speak. I laughed, I cried, it was a wonderfully touching experience.

#6 Blue Board Dinner

2008-05-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

Conferences are a great place to meet writers. Wow, that's insightful, isn't it? :) There are on-line critique groups, message boards and chat rooms, but nothing compares to entering a room with 800 writers that share your hopes and ambitions.

There were a lot of first time meetings at this year's conference. Meetings between critique partners, authors meeting illustrators, writers meeting agents and editors. But the best meeting was the Blue Board Dinner on Saturday night.

We had Sam Hranac, hairaplenty, pandapotato, Deb Cushman, sbk, Min, write2live, Ayirs, Laurie and AnnewritesYA. Is that everyone? Unfortunately we sat at a very l o n g table, so I didn't get a chance to talk with everyone. It was so much fun. I hope we can do it again next year!

#5 Scrotum

2008-05-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

This is a word you wouldn't expect to hear at a conference, but when you are at a SCBWI conference and Newbery Award winning author Susan Patron is part of the faculty, you are going to hear it—more than once.

Banned and challenged books were a hot topic at this year’s conference. The final speaker on Saturday was author, Chris Crutcher. He read an excerpt from his latest book, Deadline (yet to be banned).

Banning books is a subject that really fires me up. I understand if an individual takes offense with a particular book. There are books that appear on banned book lists that I have little desire to read. But isn’t it nice that I can make that choice? And if I want to control everything my child reads, I can (try to) do that too. But do I need to control what Billy down the street is reading?

Books are banned for many different reasons. It may be for a specific word, sexual content, or overall message. When I think about books being banned, challenged or censored, I think back to a conversation I had nearly 20 years ago with a young man that grew up in El Salvador. He asked me this question, “What do you think the government does first when they are trying to control their people?” Being an American under the age of 20, I didn’t have an answer for him. “They close the libraries,” he told me.

Books are freedom.

#4 Mo Willems

2008-05-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

I’ve been reading blogs of other Western Washington conference attendees and it is very clear that Mo made an impression on the audience. He was hilarious. Here are a few quotes/statements from his Keynote Address on Saturday.

“I write incomprehensible books for illiterates.” This was in reference to picture book manuscripts and how they should not make sense w/o the pictures. (Fine for the author/illustrator, but not so great for the writer.)

“I think of my audience, not for my audience.”

For the illustrators out there: Wide illustrations bring the focus to the setting. Long illustrations bring the focus on the character.

“People who read are called readers. People who write are called writers.” He basically told the audience to stop reading. (The editors loved this—NOT!) This is the opposite of what we usually hear, right? If you want to be a writer, read, read, read! I’ve been thinking about this statement for a few days now, and have been trying to understand it from Mo’s perspective. Without a doubt, Mo’s books are different. His perspective is fresh and unique, which is one of the reasons they are such a success. This is how I am interpreting his advice: If, as a writer, I am reading other’s work to figure out how they did it, I will not be the fresh, unique voice I can be.

That being said, I am not going to stop reading, but I will grasp at new ideas, stay fresh and be myself.

Mo wants us to be this:
su·per·la·tive of the highest kind, quality, or order; surpassing all else or others; supreme; extreme: superlative wisdom.

Not this:
su·per·flu·ous being more than is sufficient or required; excessive. unnecessary or needless. Obsolete.

Sorry, the photo is terrible. I'll blame the lighting, but it could be operator error. Each Mo link takes you to a different Mo site or article.

#3 Talked to an Agent AND an Editor

2008-04-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

Another highlight from the conference was the First Pages Panel with Dial Editor, Jessica Garrison (formerly Dandino) and Agent Marcia Wernick from Sheldon Fogelman Agency (Mo Willems agent).

This was a great opportunity to see the agent/editor thought process as they read the first page of a manuscript. They were both very kind and gave great constructive criticism.

One point that came up quite frequently was connecting with the character on the very first page. They really wanted to care about the main character from the beginning.

Now for a peek into my head at this workshop; I was sitting up front having ‘Ralph from A Christmas Story’ fantasies. The editor would read my first page and dance around the room raving about how wonderful it was. (That’s what we all want, right?) When my title was read, my ears perked up. Jessica spluttered out the page. (There are a lot of ‘p’ words on this page and the microphone did not like ‘p’ words.)

After the reading, they made some great comments. I was very happy and then, immediately panic stricken. I was going to have to talk to them. YIKES! But I did it! I went to Marcia first because she said she would like to see it. I introduced myself and asked if I could send it to her. She said yes and asked me what else I was working on. HUH? Uh, duh, sputter, stutter, stutter. I did say something that she didn’t seem too thrilled with, but she gave me some pointers and asked me to send her 2 pieces.

I talked to Jessica the next day while waiting in line for a chocolate covered strawberry (another conference highlight). I introduced myself and let her know she had read my first page. She remembered liking it and told me to send it her way.

The reality of all this is not that exciting. Chances are, I will send the manuscript(s) off and get rejections in the mail. But, I am happy with myself for having the courage to introduce myself. It will make it that much easier next time around!

#2 Elizabeth (Betsy) Bird

2008-04-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

What an amazing, intelligent, confident woman. I attended two of Elizabeth’s workshops during the conference and found her to be “quite lovely”. Now some of you may wonder if I’ve been living under a rock the past few years, but I wasn’t familiar with Elizabeth or her infamous kid lit blog, Fuse #8. If you are a fellow rock-dweller, here’s the scoop.

Elizabeth Bird is a Senior Children’s Librarian in New York and a School Library Journal Book Reviewer. She also reviews for Kirkus, was a Newberry committee member and has written for Horn Book Magazine. This gal knows her stuff. (She’s also presented at Comicon, but I think that’s another story.)

Elizabeth led the first workshop I attended titled, “Blogging and Beyond: Marketing Yourself in a Scary Virtual World”. She shared links to great blogs from Fuse #8 (scroll down to the blog roll on the right). One tip she gave was “blog readers love to see process”. This works especially well for artists or published authors that can show the progression of sketches and rough drafts to published works. She did mention that as an unpublished author, you may not want to post work that you hope to someday see published.

As a Newberry committee member, Elizabeth led the “Newberry Dream Team Panel” on Sunday morning. She asked great questions and talked a little about being on the Newberry Committee. How cool is that?

Elizabeth was such a great speaker, I decided to attend “Killing Categories: Why the Best New Books Are Changing the Rules”. She discussed The Invention of Hugo Cabret winning the Caldecott and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Did you know ‘Diary’ started as a website? Kids can read the entire book on-line. Elizabeth also has an extensive knowledge of comics and graphic novels and how these popular mediums are changing kid lit. For examples, check out Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug by Mark Newgarden, Scribble by Deborah Freedman and Jellaby by Kean Soo. Jellaby even has a MySpace page. Now that's clever marketing!

WW SCBWI

2008-04-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

Last night I returned home from the SCBWI Western Washington Conference in Bellevue, Washington and WOW, what an experience. Over the next ten days, I will post my favorite memories/experiences at this year’s conference. I hope you find some helpful tidbits and maybe a laugh or two.

#1
My first “amazing experience” did not happen at the conference, but on the University of Washington campus in Seattle. My family joined me on the trip and we combined conferencing with campus tours and a Mariner’s baseball game.

My favorite building on campus was the Suzzalo Library. This cathedral-like building was spectacular. To get my trip off to a positive start, I entered the library through the door of “inspiration”. We walked through the reading room, pictured above. Amazing, right?

Outside the reading room was the World’s largest book, Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom, by Michael Hawley. This book was printed with a gallon of ink on a roll of paper longer than a football field and is 7 foot by 5 foot. The library turns the pages of this giant picture on a regular basis so visitors can view the beautiful pages.

2008-04-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by Freckles and Deb for a book meme. Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to Freckles and Deb once you've posted your 3 sentences.

The book I chose is Tiger by Jeff Stone. This is a book my son just finished reading and he described it as, "awesome and violent". Here is a little blurb from the back cover. (Imagine it being read by the guy who does the voice work for movie previews.)

Cangzhen Temple is destroyed.

It's secret scrolls stolen.

Its warrior monks dead.

All except for

the five youngest.

Now what 10 year old boy wouldn't get hooked on those 4 sentences?

Here are lines 6,7 and 8 from page 123.

Tonglong approached Ying from the opposite side of the large campfire. “Greeting, sir,” Tonglong said. I hope all is well with you this fine evening."

I will tag
Sheri @ Diary of a Children's Book Writer
Annette @ The Writing Wild Life
Cindy @ Second Set of Eyes
Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse and
Alison @ Alison Ashley Formento

Are You Celebrating National Poetry Month?

2008-04-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

April is National Poetry Month and I have decided to celebrate by organizing a poetry contest at my son’s elementary school.

I do have a small ulterior motive for the contest, however. As part of my PTA duties, I’m in charge of Teacher Appreciation Week, so the theme of the contest is “Thank You Illahee” (the name of the school). I have tricked the kids into helping me! Wah ha ha! But seriously, I do think it is a great way to celebrate the month, get kids writing and thanking their teachers.

For more information on National Poetry Month, visit the official website.

Some Good News

2008-04-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

This week I would like to thank Stories for Children magazine for awarding my story, "Snowman's Face is Missing" a Granny Award. For more info, check out this page on their site.

I'm also happy to share the news that my rebus story, "The Pirate and the Dentist" appears in this month's issue of SFC.

Wow!

2008-03-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

That’s not all I can say about Cirque du Soleil’s, Corteo, but WOW, what a show. We took the family for my husband’s birthday and I am still in awe. The angel costumes are candy for the eyes. The strength, balance and agility of the performers is beyond belief. The music transforms you into a dreamlike state and the lighting is brilliant. Corteo is a spectacular show for all ages. If you live in Seattle, Vancouver BC, Calgary, Ottawa or Miami, it’s coming your way.

NOT the Same Old Story

2008-03-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

This past week my husband and I went to the play, Twelve Angry Men at Keller Auditorium in Portland.

If you have never seen the movie, it is a must see. The play (and movie) has one simple setting, a jury room. For me, it offered a great reflection on telling a story in a whole new way.

The story told in Twelve Angry Men is very similar to something you might see on an episode of Law and Order. You are given the facts of the case, the character of the people involved and all the drama of a murder trial.

The story is told by the 12 jurors (and yes they are very angry). They paint vivid pictures by retelling witness accounts and reviewing the evidence in the case. Each juror’s personality begins to develop, and we see how their life experiences and prejudices affect their decision in the jury room. Reginald Rose, the writer, brought us something unique when he wrote 12 Angry Men.

Blog Block

2008-03-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

I am suffering from blogger's block this week. (That sounds very unpleasant, doesn't it?)

I would like to share the title of a great picture book I just read, The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler, Illustrated by David Lee Csicsko. Add it to your library list and please enjoy my Sesame Street Clip. Who doesn't love John John?

Thanks for stopping by.

My Writing Space

2008-03-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by one of my critique partners, Ryan Loghry, to post a photo of my work space; or as I like to call it, my home inside my home. I spend a few hours here every morning working on my writing and volunteer stuff for my kids' schools.

Points of Interest:
My goldfish Lola.
The Out of Office Countdown calendar.
My In-Box (which is more of an “I-don’t-know-where-else-to-put-it” box).
The white box next to Lola -- not just an ordinary box, but a box with a picture of a goldfish drawn on it to keep Lola company.
And last but not least, the caller ID box which may someday display the name of major publishing house.

For this game, I will tag: Cindy, Annette, Deb, Alison and Mona.

Growing Idea Seeds

2008-02-25T11:09:00.000-08:00

On occasion, I’ll have a story idea that just needs a little water and sunshine to flourish. I begin without knowing where it will end, but the story flows. As I write, my beginning, middle and end come easily.

But more often than not, my idea seed needs a bit more work before it’s ready to sprout. My idea seed might be a character, setting or problem, but I’m not sure where to take it. When my seed won’t crack, I ask myself these questions:

What is the setting?
Who is my MC?
What is my MC’s problem?
What flaw or quirk can I give my MC?
What are (at least) 3 ways my MC can try to solve their problem?
How can I tie the end back to the beginning?

When I have answers to these questions, my idea seed opens and the story begins to grow.

Can you tell I'm excited for Spring?

SCBWI Barbara Karlin Grant

2008-02-17T17:26:00.000-08:00

This week I am preparing my entry for the SCBWI Barbara Karlin Grant. To be eligible, you must be a member of SCBWI and have never had a picture book published or under contract. Your entry must be mailed between February 15th and March 15th. If you’re interested in a cool $1,500, get that polished picture book manuscript in the mail. Click on the Awards & Grants link at the top of the SCBWI home page for more information. Good luck!

A Sad Valentine’s Tale

2008-02-12T14:19:00.000-08:00

When I was nine, the love of my life was fellow fourth grader, Michael Bowen. The night before the big day, I sorted through my store-bought cards looking for the perfect message of love to pass on to Michael. I don’t remember if it was Holly Hobby or a puppy holding a big red heart, but I signed my name, stuffed it into the envelope and carefully scrawled his name on the front.

The next morning, I walked into the classroom with my crepe-paper Cookie Monster Valentine’s box in one arm, and a paper bag of Valentines in the other. My best friend, Andrea, was already seated at her desk. She was beaming. When I sat down, she showed me a large strawberry Lip Smackers lip gloss. She explained she had found it wrapped in her desk when she arrived. It was from Michael. I searched my desk, hoping for a similar package, but alas, I had not been given the gift of strawberry-scented, kissable lips from my love. My heart broke. To make matters worse, it snowed on the way home and my blue crepe-paper Cookie Monster bled all over my coat. My mother was not pleased.

Valentine's Day has significantly improved since I was nine (thank goodness). I was married on Valentine's Day and now spend the holiday with my wonderful husband and two fabulous kids. Maybe they'll give me a Lip-Smakers this year. :)

Taiwanese Exchange

2008-02-05T12:41:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, our family hosted two thirteen year-old Taiwanese boys through a school exchange program. The boys came with a group of thirty-two other Taiwanese students who traveled to Washington to participate in a cultural exchange. The students were here for eight days, learning about Washington State and American culture. They also taught students from our school Chinese yo-yo, Kung-Fu, Chinese Dance, and how to play a variety of Chinese musical instruments.

For the weekend visit, the students were paired up and matched with host families. They stayed from Friday evening through Sunday night. I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect, but ended up having a very positive and educational experience. (I hope they did too!) I worried most about food, but surprisingly the boys ate just like any American teenager I’ve known! The only thing they didn’t like was the black-beans on a plate of Nachos we ordered while bowling.

Today they are leaving Washington and heading to Los Angeles for a stop in Disneyland before heading home. Our family hopes to stay in touch and we look forward to participating in the program next year.

Appreciating Voice

2008-01-29T10:26:00.000-08:00

I came across an interesting thread on the Verla Kay chat board this weekend that got me thinking about voice. We know that editors and agents are looking for “fresh” and “unique” voices, but we wonder if our voice has the qualities they are looking for.

To get a different perspective on voice, consider watching a stand-up comedian. I’ve recently found this to be a great way to study voice. After all, comics are writers that perform instead of (or in addition to) publish. Plus, laughing is good for you!

Dane Cook had a special on Comedy Central this weekend that was hilarious! While Dane’s material would not necessarily be appropriate for a children’s book, his word choices are very inspirational for a picture book writer. His voice is lively and energetic, and the creative words he chooses punch up his routine.

Another comedy writer that has excellent word choice is Tina Fey. While she is not a traditional stand-up comic, she really shows off her unique voice in her movie Mean Girls and on her TV show, 30 Rock. Liz Lemon, Rural Juror, these are just two examples of how Tina Fey uses words and the sounds of words to bring a unique voice and humor to her writing.

So pick up a CD or DVD of your favorite comic and enjoy a laugh while listening to their unique voice.